721Samuel Tucker to the American Commissioners, 22 April 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Massachusetts Historical Society <Bordeaux, April 22, 1778: My ship has been careened, but I must take out and repair the mainmast. Capt. Palmes has been long away, and I am anxious to know my destination. I shall be ready as soon as possible, but the holidays have delayed me; although I tried to get permission to keep on working, the authorities denied it. I await your orders about...
722Samuel Tucker to the American Commissioners, 11 April 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Massachusetts Historical Society <On board the Boston , Bordeaux, April 11, 1778: I shall careen my ship next Tuesday, and hope to be soon ready for sea; Mr. Bondfield will expedite matters. You will have sent Capt. Palmes, I hope, before this reaches you. I shall be happy to hear from you.> Published in Taylor, Adams Papers , VI , 27–8.
723Samuel Tucker to the American Commissioners, 29 April 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society <Bordeaux, April 29, 1778: I have received your orders but cannot carry them out immediately; repairs will take another two weeks and more. Mr. Livingston will be my second lieutenant, and I am obliged to you.> Published in Taylor, Adams Papers , VI , 73. In the commissioners’ letter of the 13th they had recommended Livingston as first officer, but Adams...
724Samuel Tucker to the American Commissioners, 25 April 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Massachusetts Historical Society <Bordeaux, April 25, 1778: I had my mast condemned by a jury of six carpenters, three merchant captains, and Mr. Bondfield. You would have told me, I assume, if you intended to load cargo; I have therefore begun to take in ballast. The King’s officers are enticing men from me for the army; I retrieved five today who were about to embark for St. Martin’s....
725Samuel Tucker to the American Commissioners, 3 July 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society <The Boston , Lorient, July 3, 1778: I arrived here after a cruise of twenty-four days, during which I took four prizes; one I sent to Boston and the others here. I returned so soon because I encountered Capt. Alexander Murray in the brig Saratoga with dispatches for you and the court and other important letters, which my officers saw. I started to convoy...
726Samuel Tucker to the American Commissioners, 28 May 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Massachusetts Historical Society These may Serve to Inform your Honours that I am Now Lying Wind bound ready for Sea and Shall Imbrace the first Opportunity after a Long Detention for the want of Seaman. The Last three weeks I was in Bordeaux my Crew was very Sickly. I had the misfortune to Loose Several from the Hospital Who died with a Pluricy fever. Then troubled with a Pack of...
727Samuel Tucker to the American Commissioners, 12 July 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society <On board the Boston , Port Louis, July 12, 1778: The Frenchmen I took on at Bordeaux have given me much trouble. When we arrived here eight of them got shore leave; their sergeant complained so much of their treatment that the King’s officers, including General La Touche of Lorient, came aboard yesterday evening to ask them whether they would stay or go...
The effects of Dr. James Smith of New York have, gentlemen, finally been found. They are at the customs office at Calais and consist of a package containing 12 table cloths and 12 knives and forks of iron with silver ferrules. If Mr. Smith plans to bring these goods into the Kingdom, he cannot avoid paying the regular charges, but if he intends to return them to America, then he will be free...
729Vergennes to the American Commissioners, 25 September 1778 (Franklin Papers)
Copies: Library of Congress (two), Massachusetts Historical Society J’ai reçu, Messieurs, la lettre que vous m’avez fait l’honneur de m’écrire pour reclamer des Effets appartenans à M. Izarts qui ont été pris sur un batiment Anglois allant à Livourne. Je n’entrerai pas ici dans la question si le Navire Ennemi rend la marchandise Ennemie, les Capteurs l’éleveront certainement. Mais Comme cette...
730Vergennes to the American Commissioners, 13 September 1778 (Franklin Papers)
Draft: Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères; copies: Harvard University Library, Massachusetts Historical Society (two), National Archives, University of Virginia Library M. Lée m’a addressé le 12. du mois d[ernier], Messrs., un mémoire en faveur du Sr. Stevenson qui desiroit d’obtenir la permission de se rendre a la gadeloupe pour y recouvrer les sommes qui luy sont dûes; M. de...
731Vergennes to the American Commissioners, 11 April 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Harvard University Library J’ai recû, Messieurs, La lettre d’hier que vous m’avés fait L’honneur de m’ecrire et l’Extrait de la resolution du Congrès en datte du 22. novembre de l’année derniere que vous aves bien voulu y joindre. Agreés en tous mes remercimens. Je ne suis pas moins sensible Messieurs, a l’attention que vous avés de m’informér de l’arrivée de M. adams Votre nouveau...
732Vergennes to the American Commissioners, 31 October 1778 (Franklin Papers)
Copies: Library of Congress, National Archives, Massachusetts Historical Society Vous me demandez, Messieurs, un jour pour l’Echange des Declarations concernant l’Omission des onzieme et douzieme Articles du Traité de Commerce. Si lundi prochain deux novembre peut vous convenir, je serai charmé d’avoir l’honneur de vous recevoir et je me flatte que vous voudrez bien me faire Celui de diner le...
733Vergennes to the American Commissioners, 29 April 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
LS : Harvard University Library; L (draft): Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères <Versailles, April 29, 1778, in French: I passed on to M. Sartine your letter about convoys, and enclose his reply; you will, I am sure, be satisfied with the measures taken. > Published in Taylor, Adams Papers , VI , 73–4. In the hand of Joseph-Mathias Gérard. He and his brother had directed bureaux of...
In the letter which you did me the honor to write to me the 28th. of last month, You recall the promise which the King has made in the 8th Article of the Treaty of Friendship and Commerce signed the 6th. February last, to employ his good offices with the Regencies of Barbary, to procure for the subjects of the United States, every security in the Meditteranean for their Commerce and...
735Vergennes to the American Commissioners, 27 September 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
LS : National Archives; L (draft): Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères; copies: National Archives (three), Library of Congress (two), Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères, Massachusetts Historical Society; transcript: National Archives <Versailles, September 27, 1778, in French: In your letter of the 28th of last month you recalled the King’s promise in article 8 of the...
736The King’s Answer to the American Commissioners, 13 January 1777 (Franklin Papers)
D and two drafts: Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères Vergennes had required time to consider the commissioners’ propositions in their letter of January 5, but discussion of them began almost immediately in the highest circle of government. On the 7th some one, presumably at Versailles, wrote a longwinded memorandum on the crisis that confronted France. The hand cannot be identified,...
737Vergennes to the American Commissioners: Two Letters, 9 January 1779: résumés (Franklin Papers)
(I) L (draft): Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères; copies: Massachusetts Historical Society, Library of Congress; (II) L (draft): Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères; copies: Massachusetts Historical Society, Library of Congress, National Archives <Versailles, January 9, 1779, in French: I have received your undated letter. We will take its contents into consideration as...
I have received, gentlemen, the undated letter that you did me the honor to write. Rest assured that we will, as much as circumstances will permit, take its contents into consideration. You may rely on the sincere interest that the King takes in the prosperity of the United States. I have the honor to be very perfectly, gentlemen, your very humble and very obedient servant LbC ( Adams Papers...
739The Comte de Vergennes to the Commissioners, 6 February 1779 (Adams Papers)
J’ai communiqué à M. de Sartine, Messieurs, la lettre que vous m’avez fait l’honneur de m’écrire le 24. du mois dernier. Ce Ministre vient de me répondre, qu’il n’est point possible de vous promettre qu’il Sera donné des escortes particuliéres aux batiments destinés pour les Etats-unis jusques aux ports de l’amérique Septentrionale ni même jusques audelà du méridien des Açores; mais que vos...
740Vergennes to the American Commissioners, 20 April 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
Copies: Library of Congress, Massachusetts Historical Society, National Archives <Versailles, April 20, 1778, in French: I have received your letter of yesterday about convoys. As the matter solely concerns M. de Sartine, I have forwarded a translation of the letter and will send you his reply.> Published in Taylor, Adams Papers , VI , 42–3.
741Vergennes to the American Commissioners, 6 February 1779: résumé (Franklin Papers)
L (draft): Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères; copies: Library of Congress, National Archives <Versailles, February 6, 1779, in French: I have communicated to M. de Sartine your letter of January 24. He has replied that it is not possible to provide special escort beyond the Azores for ships bound to North America, but that they will be escorted along with French ships far enough to...
742Vergennes to the American Commissioners, 15 May 1778 (Franklin Papers)
L (draft): Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères; copies: Library of Congress (two), Massachusetts Historical Society, National Archives (two); transcript: National Archives J’ai l’honneur Messieurs de vous envoyer la copie d’une lettre ecrite à M. de Sartine par le Consul de France a Madere. Vous y verrez toutes les circonstances de la conduite qu’un corsaire americain nommé Jean...
743Vergennes to the American Commissioners, 20 January 1779 (Franklin Papers)
L (draft): Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères; copies: Library of Congress, National Archives Vous avez bien voulu minformer, Mrs., que les batiments destinés pour l’amérique et pour lesquels vous avez demandé des convois, se trouvent dans le port de Nantes; j’en ai prévenu M. de Sartine, et ce Ministre vient de me faire à ce Sujet la réponse dont vous trouverez la copie ci jointe....
744Vergennes to the American Commissioners, 4 May 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
Copies: Library of Congress, Massachusetts Historical Society <Versailles, May 4, 1778, in French: I have taken the King’s orders on presenting Mr. Adams, who will be received on Friday the 8th. I hope that you will dine with me that day, for I should be delighted to spend some hours with you.> Published in Butterfield, John Adams Diary , II , 308. See also Adams to his two colleagues below,...
I have communicated to M. Sartine, gentlemen, the letter in which you request that an escort be provided for the vessels about to sail, which are bound for ports in the United States. This minister has just replied that it is not possible to provide an escort for the entire crossing, but the vessels in question will be conducted to waters where they can be safe from the attacks of enemy...
746Vergennes to the American Commissioners, 24 September 1778 (Franklin Papers)
L (draft): Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères; copies: Library of Congress (two), National Archives Par la lettre que vous m’avez fait l’honneur de m’écrire le 28 du mois dernier, Messieurs, vous avez demandé l’entrée libre dans le Royaume et l’Exemtion de tous droits des effets de beaucoup d’Américains qui se trouvent en Europe, et qui sont dans le dessein de retourner dans leur...
747Vergennes to the American Commissioners, 15 April 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Boston Public Library <Versailles, April 15, 1778, in French: I return you the document in English and the letter from your friend that you sent me by M. de Sartine. Your correspondent characterizes that document well, impolitic in relation to France and malignly insidious in relation to the United States; the intention of separating you from your friends shows throughout. Congress will...
748The Comte de Vergennes to the Commissioners, 18 December 1778 (Adams Papers)
L’on vient enfin de decouvrir, Messieurs, Les Effets du Dr. James Smith de New York. Ils sont a la Douane de Calais, et consistent en un Paquet contenant 12 Napes, 12 Couteaux et 12 fouchettes de fer, a Viroles d’Argent. Si M. Smith pretend introduire ces effets dans le Royaume, il ne Sauroit se dispenser d’en acquitter les Droits ordinaires, Mais Si Son Intention est de les renvoier en...
749Vergennes to the American Commissioners, 21 May 1778 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress Je reçois dans le moment, Messieurs, la Lettre que vous m’avez fait l’honneur de m’écrire le 19. pour m’informer que vous avez rendu compte au Congrès des Etats Unis des plaintes renfermées dans le Raport de M. de la Ruelliere Consul de France à Madere. Je vous prie d’agréer mes Remercimens de l’usage que vous avez bien voulu faire de la Communication que je vous en...
750Vergennes to the American Commissioners, 13 May 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
L (draft): Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères; two copies: Library of Congress <Versailles, May 13, 1778, in French: The farmers general have informed me that Capt. Tucker of the Boston has refused to allow their agents on his vessel because she is a warship. We must know whether she is, or merely a privateer; once you have established that, she will be treated like the ships of...